Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-08
SHIRLEY CARST0N Z.

By ELIZA ARCHARD.

~ on mean II, after all. 1t was not To he.
But it will be- think. There may be- storm
and trouble that we don't know o. in store
for you There may he hindranccs that will
prevent for awhile, though cannot see how.
Yet, if it should DO SO, do not give ,lp
Patience will wear out everything in time.
Let me give you II bit of philosophy. ] have
upheld myself with it when everything else
failed | have learned it ut last, made it Il
part of my life. Think of it in the time TO
come, when-whcn | am gone. 1t is this:
Reconcile Yourself to the incvitable''
But the girl quite passed by the bit of
philosophy, though she Heard it,
care you going away, Mr.. Morrison:n she
asked
"Yes, in ten minutes. Jim Sweet will he
waiting for me at the gate to take me to the
stage"
She was silent a little Then she counted
on her fingers.
"You will not he back till the vacation is
over. That will be six-cight-tcn weeks
"Shirley,' said the master, in a low, thrill
ing tone, shirley, am not coming back"
The blood forsooli her face and fled back
and settled around her heart The master
looked away. When he opened his lips,
presently, the words came broken and with
difficulty, at first, though by powerful
self command he compelled himself to speak.
He said:
Il only decided to sc 10 day, suddenly. l
must go tonight I must not wait till to-
morrow, even, for fear the temptation to re-
main here would be stronger than my will.
dare not tell what you have taught mo
me- your teacher. had lost all desire for
life when l came here You gave Inc back
hope. All the labor of mems brains was to
me a WEAKNESS and tric. You gave me
back the desire to work, to raise myself above
the common herd by worthy action.
81 was a soul i'll torment | met you, my
poet pupil, and you brought me peace. You
gave me back courage and faith in the right
/ go to join the workers Perhaps you will
hear of me- child. All that my life might
have been before it shall be now, and more.
You will make it so. How can | thank you,
o, my angel, my blessed inspirer"
"But-you-you go away" She gasped.
II dare not stay" he said. II go because
it is best-bCst.n
"But You will wrte-write to papa
"When l can-if ever l can, will write to
you; | will come back to YOU | would like
you to remember that always
Both faces were pale. This was too pain
full.
Shirley tried to SMILE but it was a weak
effort. She had not learned then the iron
discif line that gave her strength to smile
when her heart was breaking, to laugh when
her souls eyes overfowed with weeping.
That came later. She covered her face with
her hands
But the master had learned the lesson al
ready. a flash of infinite pain, of infinite
loee and longing, fitted across his face 1t
was gone in moment The face which was
bent down so close to Shirley's was calm the
eyes were steady, and bright, and hopeful
He drew her hands away from her face and
held them caresSingly in both his OWE for
one moment He made a step to 90, then
paused and turned back, and said lightly:
"Do you know Shirley, now that | am
going away, and may never you again,
I've hall mind to kiss you'
He lowered his face again. and kissed her
on the lips Then he was gone, in a moment
At the turning of the path he glanced back
at her. He stood an instant and bowed with
his hat Off. She never forgot hi5 counte-
nance as she saw il then, the serene. lofty
brow, the face 50 full Of inspiration. In all
her life sine never met another face full of
power and light and hope.
And be was gone!
Well, Shirley did not faint or weep 1t
was never her way to do either. She covered
her face with her hands, and sat as if turned
70 e+,uo Th .i..,il,,., l,,,.Ii l.; IT,
west lin thoy .hrondad tbe na7.th t,,,t lho sa+
tbore sim
II +
How could Shirley know what was pass
inc, p,oontino G,,o ,ilas a,,o,e T. a|,,,II -
her in dumb, blind way, that for her some
how existence had been torn out from its
fostoniro,s h, .l,o ro,t ,,,l,o,, H., 4s',,1 e..
ho,. ~, oo,,I5 sla - atiI1 ,. io-o
that at that very moment her future, which
looked SO sure was indeed being torn loose
from its fasteninrs.
Five miles away. ON tho other sida If tbe
VILLAGE at tbo m0mont Mr. Morriso, ,,as
leaving her a little vaeahond how yyo,Led
barefoot olonr tbe turnniko rood Va ,yos
anywhere from n 10 wears old ad;d not
know how old no was himself and surely no.
hodv else knew or cared Uo holon,rod 70
NOBODY Ha had dron.od FROM, ,ho t,o,,d w.
' Wv N''"'''